His teeth were brushed, the gift had been given, and his stomach was growling, so Xiao He rolled up his sleeves and prepared to eat.
Guan Yinping was in an excellent mood, so she removed the sword at her waist, sat down beside him, and personally served him rice and dishes.
The nearby female soldiers had never seen their young lady behave so attentively, and they exchanged odd looks as they whispered among themselves.
“Master Xiao truly sees things like a god.” Liu Bei’s voice came from outside the door.
He entered with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang, all visibly excited.
Guan Yinping quickly threw down her chopsticks and sprang to her feet, a trace of embarrassment crossing her face as she coughed lightly to hide it.
Xiao He had just raised a cup of wine to his lips.
Seeing Liu Bei arrive, he quickly swallowed and stood to greet him.
Liu Bei stepped forward and said that a report had just returned from Xiangyang, confirming that Liu Biao had indeed died in fear after hearing that Cao Cao was moving south.
He went on to say that Cai Mao and Kuai Yue had not only set aside the elder and installed Liu Cong as the new lord of Jing Province, but that there were also signs they had already forced him to surrender Jing Province to Cao Cao.
Then Liu Bei helped Xiao He sit back down and praised him with cupped hands, saying that all the sudden changes in Xiangyang had unfolded exactly as he had expected.
At those words, Guan Yinping’s face changed at once, and she turned a shocked gaze toward Xiao He.
As for Xiao He, he quietly let out a breath and felt his body relax.
It seemed that Yi Ji, the planted spy, had already sent back the message confirming his earlier prediction.
Seeing Liu Bei’s attitude now, Xiao He knew that his meal ticket was secure.
He smiled and answered modestly, saying that he did not deserve such praise for seeing things like a god.
Then he casually asked whether Liu Bei had eaten yet and suggested they share the meal, since there was too much food and wine for him to finish alone.
As he spoke, he personally filled a bowl of rice and pushed it into Liu Bei’s hands.
Liu Bei froze for a moment with the bowl in hand.
Only after Zhuge Liang coughed lightly behind him did he return to himself and remember why he had come.
So he set down the bowl and chopsticks, then cupped his hands with a solemn expression.
“Outside, Cao Cao’s great army is closing in.
Inside, Liu Cong intends to surrender without a fight.
I am stationed on the front line at Fancheng, caught between danger on both sides.” “I wish to ask for your guidance, sir.
How should I break this deadlock?” Xiao He froze for a moment and turned to look at Zhuge Liang.
With Zhuge Liang already here, why was Liu Bei asking him instead?
“I truly do not understand strategy that well.
I am afraid I cannot help Liu Bei solve this problem.” Xiao He could only spread his hands, his face full of apology.
Liu Bei turned and exchanged glances with Zhuge Liang and the others.
Could someone who had accurately predicted Liu Biao’s death and Liu Cong’s surrender to Cao Cao really know nothing about strategy?
He remembered his three visits to the thatched cottage.
Great recluses were often proud, and he had only managed to invite Zhuge Liang out by showing absolute sincerity.
Perhaps Xiao He also felt that his sincerity was not yet enough.
As soon as that thought arose, Liu Bei stood at once and straightened his robes.
“To the north, the army of the traitor Cao Cao bears down on us.
To the south, Liu Cong intends to hand Jing Province over to Cao Cao.
I am trapped between them, and matters have reached a point of life and death.” “I ask only that, for the sake of my wish to restore the Han, sir, please guide me.
How should I survive this crisis?” As he spoke, Liu Bei bowed deeply with complete sincerity.
“Liu Bei, this…” A trace of helplessness crossed Xiao He’s face.
He thought that even clinging to this livelihood was not easy for Liu Bei.
No matter how secure a position looked, no one kept useless people around.
If he wanted to eat without working, that clearly would not do.
“Liu Bei honors me too greatly.
I truly dare not accept such courtesy.” Xiao He quickly helped Liu Bei up and forced out a small smile.
“Liu Bei saved my life and gave me shelter.
If I can help Liu Bei with his troubles, then it is only right for me to do so.
I may not understand strategy very well, but since you have asked, let me think it through.” If it came to deploying troops and commanding men in battle, Xiao He would not dare agree even if Liu Bei knelt and begged him.
But offering advice on paper was something he could still attempt.
After all, he was a transmigrator.
His mind held knowledge from more than a thousand years beyond this age, filled with examples he could draw on for reference.
If they followed the original script, they would abandon Fancheng, pass Xiangyang, retreat south to Jiangling, and then be caught halfway by Cao Cao’s Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
That would be a complete disaster.
If luck turned bad, he himself might be cut down in the chaos by Cao Cao’s troops.
No, they absolutely could not take the old road.
Retreating directly to Jiangxia to join Liu Qi was possible, but there was still a chance they would be overtaken by Cao Cao.
It seemed that fleeing was the worst option.
The best course was to hold Fancheng and block Cao Cao north of the Han River.
Many later dynasties that survived in the south had done exactly that.
They held Fancheng and relied on the natural barrier of the Han River to keep northern cavalry from crossing.
The clearest example was the Southern Song, which used the Xiangfan line to resist the Mongol army for decades.
But if they only defended Fancheng, how could Liu Bei’s ten thousand men stop Cao Cao’s hundred thousand?
That alone was hard enough, and Liu Cong was still hiding in Xiangyang, ready to stab Liu Bei in the back at any moment.
Then Xiao He suddenly paused, and his eyes lit up.
“Wait…
Xiangyang!” The more he thought about it, the clearer it became.
Xiangfan had always been a pair.
Xiangyang and Fancheng stood across the river from each other and had long formed a single strategic whole.
To take Fancheng, one first had to take Xiangyang.
If Xiangyang fell, then Fancheng could never be held.
That was it.
The key was Xiangyang.
In an instant, Xiao He’s thoughts opened up, and a bold plan quickly took shape in his mind.
“If Liu Bei wants to turn the situation around, then in my view there is only one road to take.” Xiao He drew a deep breath and slowly spoke four words.
“Raid on Xiangyang.”